Beauty Treatments and Cosmetics -- What's Safe?

What's safe and what's not

Beauty treatments and cosmetics

The following advises which products and treatments are safe in pregnancy.

Hair and nail products

Shampoos, conditioners, manicures, and pedicures are safe. Minute amounts of hair dye may be absorbed through the skin, but there's no evidence that this affects the baby. Chemical hair straighteners and curlers are also thought to be safe.

Piercing

Facial piercing or piercing the belly button, nipples, or genitalia isn't advised since you're at a higher risk of infection. If you have a navel piercing already, you can change a metallic ring for a flexible plastic retainer made from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). Nipple rings can affect breast-feeding, so remove a ring before birth so the skin can heal. Vaginal or vulval piercings are best removed to avoid damage at birth.

Body wraps/hot tubs

These raise body temperature, which is unsafe for you and your baby. Heat exposure from a hot tub in the first three months can increase the risk of a baby developing spina bifida.

Facials

The cosmetics used for facials are thought to be safe.

Botox

The Food and Drug Administration recommends that women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use Botox. Although it's used for cosmetic reasons, it is a drug and should be considered as such. Doctors also advise avoiding Botox during pregnancy.